Bipolar forceps for conducting a pelviscopy

ABSTRACT

A bipolar forceps for conducting a pelviscopy comprising a pair of blades ( 2 ) that are made from a form-memorizing alloy and are partially covered by a plastic sheath ( 4 ) so that they can be fixed inside a tube ( 6 ). Each blade ( 2 ) has a non-sheathed end ( 5 ) with a curved profile which can become elastically deformed when the blades are moved in a longitudinal direction inside a guide ( 12 ) having a low internal diameter, in addition to comprising a cylindrical support ( 10 ) enabling the pair of blades ( 2 ) to be connected on the guide ( 12 ) and brought back into a specific position with the aid of elastic elements ( 13 ). Elements ( 11 ) are also provided for enabling the pair of blades ( 2 ) to be connected to a voltage source ( 3 ) so that each blade can function according to an electrode in order to enable coagulation of tissues.

The present invention relates to a bipolar forceps for pelviscopypermitting coagulation of tissues.

There are known forceps of this type which are of two parallel metallicblades connected to a voltage source to use the blades as electrodes.

The forceps comprises means for moving the blades relative to eachother, when the latter is introduced into a cannula or trocar to deformthe free ends of each blade so as to grip the tissues to be coagulated.

The displacement means are generally constituted by two handles of whichone is moveable to prevent sliding the blades within the cannula ortrocar so as to deform the ends.

It is noted that the blades have an external diameter of about 5millimeters, which is too large to penetrate the guides or cannulae ofsmaller diameter, which are provided between 1.5 and 3 millimetersinternal diameter.

Also, it is noted that the metallic material used for the constructionof the blades, such as an alloy, does not permit reducing the externaldiameter of the forceps without risking impeding its operation.

It is these drawbacks that the present invention seeks more particularlyto overcome.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention has for itsobject to be able to be introduced into the interior of guides orcannulae whose internal diameter is less than 5 millimeters, whilstguaranteeing a perfect operation of the blades during their resilientdeformation.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises a pairof blades covered with an insulating sheath, a guide for the sliding ofthe pair of blades, a voltage source connected to each blade so that thelatter operates as an electrode to permit the coagulation of tissues, apair of blades made of an alloy having shape memory, which are partiallycovered with a sheath of plastic material so as to be fixed within atube, whilst each blade has an unsheathed end with a curved crosssection forming jaws which are held in deformed position within theguide, which is to say in a closed position by means of resilient returnmeans,

and a cylindrical support, within which is disposed the pair of bladessecured to the tube, said cylindrical support comprising, oppositeresilient return means, connection means which permit securement of thebipolar forceps on the guide.

The bipolar forceps according to the invention comprises resilientreturn means which are constituted by a handle and a return springdisposed in the internal portion of the cylindrical support to come intobearing against an abutment of the cylindrical tube.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises bladeswhich are made of an alloy with shape memory of the hyper-elastic type,to be able to have a very small external diameter and a largedeformation of the ends.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises bladeswhich have a long length of the sheathed portion, an oblong profile ofconstant thickness.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises bladeswhose unsheathed ends of the blades have an oblong profile whosethickness is less than that of the sheathed portion, permitting betterresilient deformation under external force on the one hand, and agreater contact surface facilitating the coagulation of the tissues onthe other hand.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises bladeswhich are interconnected by means of a cylindrical tube which has ateach end circular deformations permitting the longitudinal blockage ofthe blades between themselves.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises bladeswhich are surrounded by other sleeve over all the length of the firstsleeve, permitting their securement together so as to prevent them frommoving longitudinally relative to each other.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises acylindrical support comprising, adjacent the connection means, a sealedconnection of the valve type for the introduction of a fluid into theinternal channel of the guide and into the operating site.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises acylindrical support comprising resilient return means which areconstituted by a handle formed by a curved and flexible branch whichcomes to bear against a casing of the voltage source.

The bipolar forceps according to the present invention comprises acylindrical support comprising, opposite the handle secured to itsbranch, a sealed connection of the valve type to introduce a fluid intothe internal channel of the guide and into the operating site.

The description which follows with respect to the accompanying drawings,given by way of nonlimiting example, permits better understanding of theinvention, the characteristics which it provides, and the advantageswhich it is adapted to supply:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing the bipolar forceps for pelviscopyaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed views showing the arrangement of thehyper-elastic blades of the forceps for pelviscopy, according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5a is a cross section on the line AA of FIG. 4, showing thesheathing of the hyper-elastic blades of the forceps for pelviscopyaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5b is a cross section similar to that of FIG. 5a showing a modifiedsheathing of the hyper-elastic blades of the forceps for pelviscopyaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5c is a cross section on the line BB of FIG. 4, showing the crosssection of the unsheathed end of the hyper-elastic blades of the forcepsfor pelviscopy according to the present invention.

FIG. 5d is a cross section on the line CC of FIG. 3, showing thesecurement of the hyper-elastic blades within the tube of the forcepsfor pelviscopy according to the present invention.

FIG. 5e is a cross section on the line DD of FIG. 3, showing the passageof the hyper-elastic blades within the tube of the forceps forpelviscopy according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6a to 6 e are fragmentary views showing the maximum path fordeformation of the hyper-elastic blades within the guide of smalldiameter.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the cylindrical support of FIG. 1 provided withfluid supply means for the internal channel of the guide receiving theforceps for pelviscopy according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a modification of the cylindrical support andmore particularly of the resilient return means of the forceps forpelviscopy according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a modified cylindrical support of FIG. 8 onwhich are provided supply means for the internal channel of the guidereceiving the forceps for pelviscopy according to the present invention.

There is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 a bipolar forceps 1 for pelviscopy,comprising a pair of blades 2 which are connected to a voltage source 3,such that each blade functions as an electrode for the coagulation oftissues.

Each blade 2 is made of an alloy with shape memory of the hyper-elastictype, to be able to have a very small external diameter, of the order of1.6 millimeters, and an important deformation of the ends of saidblades.

The blades 2 are partially covered with a sleeve 4 of plastic materialpermitting insulating them from each other over a large portion of thelatter. It will be seen that the blades 2 have over the length of thesleeve portion 4 an oblong profile of constant thickness (FIGS. 5a, 5b).

The blades 2 each comprise one end 5, unsheathed, constituting the jawsof the bipolar forceps 1. It will be noted that the ends 5 of the blades2 have an oblong cross sectional shape whose thickness is less than thatprovided for the sleeved portion 4 (FIG. 5c). The thinner profile of theends 5 of each blade 2 permits a better resilient deformation underexternal force, on the one hand, and a greater contact surfacefacilitating coagulation of the tissues, on the other hand.

The blades 2 are interconnected by means of a cylindrical tube 6 whichhas at each end circular deformations 7 permitting longitudinal blockingof the blades together and avoiding the blades moving relative to eachother. The tube 6 comprises on its periphery, and adjacent todeformation 7, a circular abutment 8 permitting limiting thelongitudinal path of the blades 2 (FIGS. 5d, 5 e).

Prior to securement of the blades 2 together within the tube 6, thelatter can be surrounded by another sleeve 9 over all the length of thefirst sleeve 4. The sleeve 9 can also replace the tube 6, because thewrapping of this latter about the blades 2 permits the securementtogether so as to prevent them from moving longitudinally relative toeach other (FIG. 5b).

The tube 6 and the blades 2 are disposed within a cylindrical support 10comprising at one end, and more particularly the end turned toward thesides of the jaws 5, connection means 11 which permit the securement ofthe forceps 1 on a small diameter guide 12.

The cylindrical support 10 comprises, opposite the end carrying theconnection means 11, resilient return means 13 which are constituted bya handle 14 and a return spring (not shown) but disposed in the internalportion of said support to come into bearing against the abutment 8 ofthe cylindrical tube 6.

It will be noted that the forceps 1 has, before any introduction into aguide of small diameter 12, jaws 5 which are always in open positionbecause of the curved profile which has been given to the blades 2.

When the forceps 1 is introduced into the guide 12, and locked on thislatter by means of connection means 11 of the cylindrical support 10, itwill be noted that the resilient return means 13 hold relative to thefree end of said guide the jaws 5 of the blades 2 against each other,which is to say in a closed position (FIG. 6e).

Thus, the resilient return means 13 determine the maximum longitudinalpath which the blades 2 can follow within the support 10 and the guide12.

The closed position, the so-called rest position of the blades 2, isobtained by the fact that these latter penetrate sufficiently within aninternal channel 15 of the guide 12 to deform the curved profile of thejaws 5 and to apply them against each other.

There would be understood by rest position, the position of the forceps1 introduced into the operating site by means of the guide 12 of smalldiameter and before any use of said forceps by the surgeon.

When the surgeon wants to open the jaws 5 of the blades 2 of the forceps1, he need only take between his fingers of one of his hands the handle14 of the support 10 and push on the casing 16 of the voltage source 3,whilst the other hand retains the guide 12 such that the blades 2 leavethe internal channel 15 and open because of their resilientcharacteristics of shape memory.

The longitudinal movement of the casing 16 in the direction of thesupport 10 permits sliding the blades 2 within said support and guide 12so as to free the jaws 5 from the internal channel 15 (FIG. 6a).

The surgeon can position between the open jaws 5 of the blades 2,tissues to be cauterized, such as blood vessels or the like.

The surgeon progressively releases the housing 16 so that the resilientreturn means 13 move the blades 2 longitudinally relative to the guide12 and within the channel 15 to close the jaws 5 about the tissue to becauterized (FIGS. 6b to 6 e).

It then suffices to apply at the level of the jaws 5 an alternatingvoltage of the high frequency type by means of the voltage source 3, soas to cauterize or coagulate the tissue.

The surgeon proceeds to open the jaws 5 to free the cauterized tissue bypushing again on the casing 16 so that the blades 2 slide within theguide 12 (FIG. 6a).

In FIG. 7 is shown a first modification of the support 10 of FIG. 1 asto the emplacement adjacent the connection means 11 of a sealedconnection 17 of the valve type to introduce into the internal channel15 of the guide 12 and into the operating site a fluid.

In FIG. 8 is shown a second modification of the support 10 of FIG. 1, asto the resilient return means 13 which are constituted by a handle 14formed of a curved and flexible branch 18 which bears against the casing16 of the voltage source 3.

The branch 18 permits replacing the spring introduced within the support10 and which bears against the abutment 8 of the cylindrical tube 6.

In FIG. 9 is shown a modification of the support 10 of FIG. 8, whichconsists in providing, opposite the handle 14 secured to the branch 18,a sealed connection 17 of the valve type for the introduction into theinternal channel 15 and into the operating site a fluid.

It will be noted that the resilient return means can operate reverselythan has been described above without thereby changing the object of theinvention.

It will be noted that the guide 12 on which the support 10 of theforceps 1 is fixed, can be, for example, the universal catheterdescribed in French patent application FR 97 13988 belonging to theapplicants.

The use of the universal catheter as the guide 12, permits the surgeonto perform a particular operation connected with fertilization bycoagulation of the tubes.

It should moreover be understood that the preceding description is givenonly by way of example and in no way limits the scope of the invention,from which one would not depart by replacing the details of executiondescribed, by all other equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. Bipolar forceps for pelviscopy permitting thecoagulation of tissues, comprising a pair of blades (2) covered with aninsulating sheath (4), a guide (12) for the sliding of the pair ofblades (2) and a source of voltage (3) connected to each blade (2) sothat these latter operate as electrodes to permit the coagulation oftissues, wherein: the pair of blades (2) are made of an alloy with shapememory, which are partially covered with the insulating sheath (4) ofplastic material so as to be fixed within a tube (6), whilst each blade(2) has an unsheathed end (5) with a curved cross section forming jawswhich are held in a deformed position within the guide (12), which is tosay, in a closed position by means of a resilient return means (13), anda cylindrical support (10), within which is disposed the pair of blades(2) secured to the tube (6), said cylindrical support comprising,opposite the elastic return means (13), connection means (11) whichpermit the securement of the bipolar forceps (1) on the guide (12). 2.Bipolar forceps according to claim 1, characterized in that theresilient return means (13) are constituted by a handle (14) and areturn spring disposed in the internal portion of the cylindricalsupport (10) to come into engagement against an abutment (8) of thecylindrical tube (6).
 3. Bipolar forceps according to claim 1,characterized in that each blade (2) is made of an alloy with shapememory of the hyper-elastic type to be able to have a very smallexternal diameter and a large deformation of the ends (5).
 4. Bipolarforceps according to claim 2, characterized in that the blades (2) haveover the length of the sheathed portion (4) an oblong cross section ofconstant thickness.
 5. Bipolar forceps according to claim 1,characterized in that the unsheathed ends (5) of the blades (2) have anoblong cross section whose thickness is less than that of the sheathedportion (4) permitting a better resilient deformation under externalforce on the one hand, and a larger contact surface facilitatingcoagulation of the tissues on the other hand.